- The rapid and often unplanned expansion of cities is exposing a greater number of people
and economic assets to the risk of disasters and the effects of climate change.

- This paper proposes a framework for carrying out urban risk assessment, and seeks to
strengthen coherence and consensus in how cities can plan for natural disasters and climate
change.

- The Urban Risk Assessment presents a flexible approach that project and city managers
can use to identify feasible measures to assess a city’s risk.

- The proposed assessment methodology focuses on three reinforcing pillars that collectively
contribute to the understanding of urban risk: a hazard impact assessment, an institutional
assessment, and a socioeconomic assessment.

- Based on the identified needs and priorities, city governments can select the most
appropriate level of risk assessment.

- The Urban Risk Assessment is intended to assist in decision-making, urban planning, and
designing disaster and climate risk management programs.

- An ancillary objective of the urban risk assessment is to better position cities to absorb and
allocate discrete adaptation funds should they be available.

- This report (i) presents the case for the need to better understand risks related to natural
hazards and climate change in cities, (ii) proposes an integrated approach to practitioners
for identifying areas, populations and assets most at risk from the effects of disasters and
climate change, and (iii) provides preliminary suggestions for risk reduction through
quantification of risk and implementation of preventative programs.